The Power of the Dog - Emperors New Clothes?
Discussion
Saw this was available free to view on Netflix and my wife likes to see most films nominated for big Oscars, so we started watching it.
What a load of pretentious toss. Filmed with a heavy sepia tint, minimal dialogue, the most threadbare of “plot” and quite frankly I can’t see what all the excitement is about over the performances by the actors. No one is being stretched particularly. We gave up just over halfway through because it was just so slow, and I don’t think we’ll finish it.
It’s almost as if the awards people have said “this film is so non-entertaining it must be high art and therefore we’ll give it gongs to show we understand it”.
No surprise it’s directed by Jane Campion, it’s basically The Piano 2, same characters lifted from NZ and plonked into a new setting. It even has another fecking piano supporting the “storyline”.
Anybody else, or am I an ignoramus who doesn’t “get” it?
What a load of pretentious toss. Filmed with a heavy sepia tint, minimal dialogue, the most threadbare of “plot” and quite frankly I can’t see what all the excitement is about over the performances by the actors. No one is being stretched particularly. We gave up just over halfway through because it was just so slow, and I don’t think we’ll finish it.
It’s almost as if the awards people have said “this film is so non-entertaining it must be high art and therefore we’ll give it gongs to show we understand it”.
No surprise it’s directed by Jane Campion, it’s basically The Piano 2, same characters lifted from NZ and plonked into a new setting. It even has another fecking piano supporting the “storyline”.
Anybody else, or am I an ignoramus who doesn’t “get” it?
PhilboSE said:
Saw this was available free to view on Netflix and my wife likes to see most films nominated for big Oscars, so we started watching it.
What a load of pretentious toss. Filmed with a heavy sepia tint, minimal dialogue, the most threadbare of “plot” and quite frankly I can’t see what all the excitement is about over the performances by the actors. No one is being stretched particularly. We gave up just over halfway through because it was just so slow, and I don’t think we’ll finish it.
It’s almost as if the awards people have said “this film is so non-entertaining it must be high art and therefore we’ll give it gongs to show we understand it”.
No surprise it’s directed by Jane Campion, it’s basically The Piano 2, same characters lifted from NZ and plonked into a new setting. It even has another fecking piano supporting the “storyline”.
Anybody else, or am I an ignoramus who doesn’t “get” it?
I didn't even last until half way.What a load of pretentious toss. Filmed with a heavy sepia tint, minimal dialogue, the most threadbare of “plot” and quite frankly I can’t see what all the excitement is about over the performances by the actors. No one is being stretched particularly. We gave up just over halfway through because it was just so slow, and I don’t think we’ll finish it.
It’s almost as if the awards people have said “this film is so non-entertaining it must be high art and therefore we’ll give it gongs to show we understand it”.
No surprise it’s directed by Jane Campion, it’s basically The Piano 2, same characters lifted from NZ and plonked into a new setting. It even has another fecking piano supporting the “storyline”.
Anybody else, or am I an ignoramus who doesn’t “get” it?
Dog s
t.
coppice said:
Terrific film - beautifully shot, a terrific slow burn plot and fine acting . But if your insult of choice is 'woke ', I can see why it might not appeal. Each to their own eh ?
Well, it was beautifully shot. However everything else was garbage. I'd seen the awards that it had picked up, so on that basis we gave it a watch. I'm embarassed to admit that we watched to the end as I thought something worthwhile would eventually happen in the plot - it didn't. I don't think that I need a spoiler alert for my comment either, judging by most of the other comments.A strange one.
Don’t mind admitting I didn’t really ‘get’ it myself first time around. Possibly because my attention span at home is poor - iPhone distraction etc. - whereas in the cinema it’s focused.
The wonderful cinematography (though I was for some reason slightly disappointed to learn it was filmed in NZ - totally irrational, but it seems less authentic for a Western which very much relies upon the setting as almost an additional character) and fine acting very much stood out on first viewing.
Cumberbatch is terrific, in particular. Contrast with his ‘Imitation Game’ turn and his range is evident.
But the plot did feel a bit absent, with little drive.
After, some reading (shamefully, for me) better explained the ending and it all made much, much more sense in hindsight.
On the first go around the mental turmoil was clear, but the ending really completes the story arc and adds closure. If you didn’t stick around or (hands up) pay enough attention to fully appreciate that, then I can see how it may be a frustrating, strange film.
Ultimately, the Wikipedia entry calls it a psychological drama, and I think that nails this film.
If you’re expecting a traditional western, you’ll be disappointed.
But as a film that is all about the inner turmoil of its characters as they relate to their unforgiving, uncomfortable & changing surroundings, it really is a masterful bit of work.
I appreciate I may be leaving myself open to the ‘Emporer’s New Clothes’ accusation when relying upon hindsight (and, perhaps subconsciously, critical pressure) to validate the film, but having watched it a second time to better appreciate, I don’t personally think that’s the case.
Don’t mind admitting I didn’t really ‘get’ it myself first time around. Possibly because my attention span at home is poor - iPhone distraction etc. - whereas in the cinema it’s focused.
The wonderful cinematography (though I was for some reason slightly disappointed to learn it was filmed in NZ - totally irrational, but it seems less authentic for a Western which very much relies upon the setting as almost an additional character) and fine acting very much stood out on first viewing.
Cumberbatch is terrific, in particular. Contrast with his ‘Imitation Game’ turn and his range is evident.
But the plot did feel a bit absent, with little drive.
After, some reading (shamefully, for me) better explained the ending and it all made much, much more sense in hindsight.
On the first go around the mental turmoil was clear, but the ending really completes the story arc and adds closure. If you didn’t stick around or (hands up) pay enough attention to fully appreciate that, then I can see how it may be a frustrating, strange film.
Ultimately, the Wikipedia entry calls it a psychological drama, and I think that nails this film.
If you’re expecting a traditional western, you’ll be disappointed.
But as a film that is all about the inner turmoil of its characters as they relate to their unforgiving, uncomfortable & changing surroundings, it really is a masterful bit of work.
I appreciate I may be leaving myself open to the ‘Emporer’s New Clothes’ accusation when relying upon hindsight (and, perhaps subconsciously, critical pressure) to validate the film, but having watched it a second time to better appreciate, I don’t personally think that’s the case.
UnclePat said:
Ultimately, the Wikipedia entry calls it a psychological drama, and I think that nails this film.
If you’re expecting a traditional western, you’ll be disappointed.
But as a film that is all about the inner turmoil of its characters as they relate to their unforgiving, uncomfortable & changing surroundings, it really is a masterful bit of work.
I appreciate I may be leaving myself open to the ‘Emporer’s New Clothes’ accusation when relying upon hindsight (and, perhaps subconsciously, critical pressure) to validate the film, but having watched it a second time to better appreciate, I don’t personally think that’s the case.
I saw it on exactly that basis; it was immediately clear this wasn't a typical Western at all , and it was all the better for that . It was a film to savour, not a film starring a Colt 45 and lots of bangs. There's comparisons in how the film was received with Don't Look Up - anybody thinking this was a conventional 'save the planet ' sci fi film was always going to be disappointed. If you’re expecting a traditional western, you’ll be disappointed.
But as a film that is all about the inner turmoil of its characters as they relate to their unforgiving, uncomfortable & changing surroundings, it really is a masterful bit of work.
I appreciate I may be leaving myself open to the ‘Emporer’s New Clothes’ accusation when relying upon hindsight (and, perhaps subconsciously, critical pressure) to validate the film, but having watched it a second time to better appreciate, I don’t personally think that’s the case.
Further to my earlier comment, I wasn't expecting a 'shoot 'em up' Western. I did expect there to be some more depth and explanation of the characters, all of whom were depicted very superficially with little explanation e.g. Kirsten Dunst suddenly getting married & becoming a lush. No real plot and little change of pace throughout. Overall I thought it was just a very poor effort from a director with such a talented cast at his disposal.
Gargamel said:
Bit slow, but I guess if your expectations are more dirty dozen or Django, then it probably wasn’t the film for you anyway.
I'll watch pretty much anything, and I had no expectations for the film other than it had been deemed highly award-worthy, and therefore could get a couple of hours of my time. I just wanted to be entertained; to enjoy the time I spent.The set and locations were good and highly evocative (don't know how accurate they are), despite being half a world away from where they were depicting. I found the sepia tint and filtering to be a cinematographic conceit. Jesse Plemons was Jesse Plemons. Kirsten Dunst didn't need to get out of second gear. Cumberbatch just had to be morose and brooding for the half of the film I saw, as I said not exactly a stretch for him.
I just didn't see anything particularly notable to be worth all the praise and awards, hence my new clothes question.
A great film that’s made me think about it a lot since.
Nothing seems to happen on the surface but Cumberbatch’s performance of a repressed homosexual really is outstanding and is Oscar worthy.
I read the book afterwards and it’s in the same category as things like Grapes of Wrath imo.
I’m normally a “Dudes where’s my car” type of watcher but I thought this was brillant.
Nothing seems to happen on the surface but Cumberbatch’s performance of a repressed homosexual really is outstanding and is Oscar worthy.
I read the book afterwards and it’s in the same category as things like Grapes of Wrath imo.
I’m normally a “Dudes where’s my car” type of watcher but I thought this was brillant.
Dull as ste, maybe just some appeasing the minorities crap for all the wokies. For a far better western that is actually good try Old Henry.
I rarely stop watching a film mid way through but the Power of the Dog was so tedious we couldn’t finish it, would rather watch paint dry to be honest…
te, maybe just some appeasing the minorities crap for all the wokies. For a far better western that is actually good try Old Henry.I rarely stop watching a film mid way through but the Power of the Dog was so tedious we couldn’t finish it, would rather watch paint dry to be honest…
Here's an idea - instead of insulting people who enjoyed the film , why not acknowledge that cinematic tastes differ, and that some of us enjoyed the film hugely ? If that makes me woke (is that the best you can do ? ) , so be it . You might have been a tad more convincing if you'd bothered to finish it. .
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